Calla lily plant named ‘Las Vegas’

ABSTRACT

‘Las Vegas’ is a new variety of calla lily having inflorescences with a purple-colored spathe that produces 5-25 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 37 cm in height, and the leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘LAS VEGAS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Las Vegas’.

‘Las Vegas’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling referred to as Z010369 (female parent, unpatented) with Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Captain Reno’ (male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,052). ‘Las Vegas’ was selected in 2010 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Las Vegas’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2010 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in a 14 cm pot at 12-14 weeks after planting in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Las Vegas’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Uniform inner and outer spathe color;     -   2. High success rate in tuber production; and     -   3. High inflorescence production.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Schwarzwalder’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,001), ‘Schwarzwalder’ has an upper surface spathe color of Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A and a lower surface spathe color that varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A and Black Group RHS 202A, while ‘Las Vegas’ has an upper surface spathe color that varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A and 187B and a lower surface spathe color that varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 186A and 186B. Additionally, the spadix color of ‘Schwarzwalder’ varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 185A and 187B, while the spadix color of ‘Las Vegas’ varies between Yellow Group RHS 12A and 12C.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Las Vegas’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selection Z010369 and ‘Captain Reno’.

TABLE 1 ‘Las Vegas’ Similarities Differences Z010369 Plant height Spathe color (Varies between Orange-Red Group RHS N34A and Red Group RHS 46A) Number of Spathe shape (Funnel) inflorescences ‘Captain Reno’ Spathe shape Number of inflorescences (3-10) Inner spathe color Plant height (29-40 cm)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at 12-14 weeks after planting, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a single plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a group of multiple plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT THE PLANT

-   Size:     -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—5-35 cm.         -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—14-47 cm.         -   Diameter.—20-40 cm. -   Form: Erect. -   Number of inflorescences per tuber:     -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—5-8 inflorescences.         -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—8-15 inflorescences.         -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—10-25 inflorescences. -   Branches:     -   -   Character.—Many (from 2-7); like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S.             Plant Pat. No. 18,833).         -   Color.—Between Green Group RHS 137A and 137B. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Width: 3-13 cm. Length: 3-25 cm.         -   Number per plant.—20-40.         -   Shape.—Spear-shaped.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A to 137B, with             transparent White Group RHS 155B and N155A spots. Lower             surface: Green Group RHS 137B to 137C, with transparent             White Group RHS 155B and N155A spots.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Hastate.         -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Green Group RHS 137A to             137B.         -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 143A             to 143B.         -   Surface quality.—Leathery.         -   Petiole.—Length: 3-25 cm. Diameter: 7 mm.         -   Color.—The base is White Group RHS 155A, and the upper part             is Green Group RHS 137B to 137C. -   Roots:     -   -   Color.—White.         -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

THE INFLORESCENCE AND SEEDS

-   Spathe:     -   -   Size.—Length (measured from base opening to tip): 5.5-10 cm.             Width: 3-6 cm. Height: 4-10 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS             187A and 187B. Lower surface: Varies between Greyed-Purple             Group RHS 186A and 186B.         -   Vein color.—Between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A and 187B.         -   Shape.—Cupped.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Texture.—Smooth (upper and lower surfaces). -   Spadix:     -   -   Size.—Length: 20-46 mm. Diameter: 3-10 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 12A and 12C.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Size.—Length: 8-37 cm. Diameter: 4-11 mm.         -   Color.—The upper part is between Green Group RHS 143A and             143B, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.         -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.         -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.             Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant and similar to             ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282), but not quantifiable             due to minute pollen size. Color: Between White Group RHS             155A and 155B.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between             Yellow Group RHS 12A and 12C.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group             RHS 155A and 155B.         -   Pistil.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group             RHS 3A and 3B.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Red-Purple             Group RHS 59A and 59B, bottom color is from White Group RHS             155B to 157C. -   Seeds:     -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.         -   Width.—3-6 mm.         -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.         -   Amount.—Between 1-60. -   Fruit:     -   -   Amount.—Multiple berries produced.         -   Shape.—Irregular.         -   Color.—Exhibits a main color that varies between Green Group             RHS 141C and 143C and a secondary color that varies between             Purple Group RHS N79C and Violet-Blue Group RHS N92A.

GENERAL

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to     date. -   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date. -   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance. -   Hardiness: Not hardy. -   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in     February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in     The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July. In general,     the time from planting to first flowering takes eight weeks.     However, tubers stored for a longer period before planting may     flower earlier—up to five weeks after planting. -   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant. -   Fragrance: None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Las Vegas’ as herein described and illustrated. 